Aosta valley

DOC region for dry white wines in the upper Aosta valley in the region of the same name in Italy. The terraced vineyards have a total area of only 15 hectares, and are located at an altitude of 1.200 metres above sea level on both banks of the Dora-Baltea river in the communes of Morgex and La Salle, from which the name is taken, facing the Mont Blanc massif. There were plans in the mid-twentieth century to abandon these vineyards, until Abbé Alexandre Bougeat (1916-1972) started a successful initiative to save the region. The exposed site has given the wine the nickname of „Bianco dei ghiacciai“ (white glacier wine). It is a varietal wine made from ungrafted indigenous vines of the Prié (Blanc de Morgex) variety, which is trained on low pergola trellises. The racy perlé wines has an aroma of citrus and mountain herbs. Well-known producers include Cave du Vin Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle, Brunet, Celegato, Pavese, Vevey A. and Vevey M.